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The Right Way to Travel
Edited by Lori Allen in Arlington, VA
December 7, 2007
"The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it." - John Ruskin
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Today:
*** How to Get a Free Rental Car Upgrade
*** You Can Easily Make 2008 Your Big Year
*** Practical Writing Prompt of the Week: Open Shopping Season
*** Reader Feedback: Giving Thanks
*** More Opportunities and Resources for Writers
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Dear Reader,
I was thinking about you last week when I was in South Florida.
I had to rent a car to get from the airport to my hotel and I had heard that if you simply ask for a free upgrade at the rental-car counter, you're likely to get one.
I tried it. And sure enough, I got a convertible. No extra charge.
What's nice about a convertible (aside from the obvious fresh air and sun on your face) is the look on your co-workers' faces when you roll up next to them in one. After all, we were in South Florida and the weather was gorgeous.
Now, my colleagues assumed I got the upgrade because I had told the clerk I was a travel writer. And it's true, travel writers get this sort of treatment all the time.
But that wasn't the case last week. I wasn't working on an assignment and the woman behind the counter had no clue who I was. I simply walked up and said, "Do you have any free upgrades today?" To which she replied, "Let me check."
It was as simple as that.
And the truth is, if you travel regularly (or you've been reading this newsletter long enough), you ought to have quite a few travel secrets like this up your sleeve by now. Secrets like...
... ask for that hotel-room upgrade... ask for the rental-car upgrade... book an Around-the-World ticket from the U.S. to Australia instead of a round-trip ticket because it's likely cheaper... book your first-class seat through an air broker instead of through an airline as that's likely cheaper, too... etc.
We recently published a 57-page book that includes all sorts of tips like those, titled: Travel Better for Less: 93 Secrets for Traveling Well (And Even Getting Paid to Do It).
Although -- bear with me here -- I don't think you should buy it. I'd like to give it to you.
Because you probably know at least some of what's in there. I know I did.
Though I must say: I flipped through this report again yesterday and discovered a few things I didn't know, like...
Dawn dishwashing soap is great for removing stains and washing clothes when you travel.
I would have thought to pack Woolite or some other kind of laundry detergent. But Dawn makes sense because it fights grease on dishes -- so why not on clothes? You can bet I'll try this on my next long trip.
And, of course, I like the tipping guide that's inside. (I never know what to tip.) And I like the unusual hotel ideas -- staying in a lighthouse in Croatia, a monastery in Greece, and castles in Italy.
And I like the listing of hotels rated by International Living's staff. I like their quirky tastes, so the next time I travel to France or Spain or any of the other countries they mention, I'll check their recommendation first.
In the end, I guess there's a lot in this book you might find valuable. I mean, I think it's a great little guide.
Even so, I don't think you should buy it.
My suggestion is that you get it for free by buying something else from our holiday sale.
I'll watch the orders this week. And if you buy something (even our $24 photo tip cards), I'll send you this $29 guide for free.
Again, it's a great little book. I just don't want you to pay for something you can get for nothing.
Almost all of our products are discounted this month on our holiday order form, here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/holiday2007/savings.
And it would be my pleasure to send you a free copy of Travel Better for Less when you order something -- my holiday gift to you.
Now -- before you click over to go shopping -- don't forget to scroll down to today's writing prompt. It'll give you something to think about this weekend when you're out looking for gifts.
-- Lori
Lori Allen
Director, AWAI's Travel Division
P.S. Know a friend or two who'd enjoy the freedom and independence of a writer's or photographer's life? They, too, can sign up to receive this free e-letter here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/eletter
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PRACTICAL WRITING PROMPT OF THE WEEK: Open Shopping Season
In the United States, shopping is practically the national sport -- and peak shopping season is clearly in full-swing. While you're in the spirit, and checking off items on your holiday list, you can also spend some time gathering information for a shopping round-up article about your hometown.
Where do you go for the most unique gifts? What neighborhood offers the best picks? Which shopping places in your town are easiest to access, have the best food, offer free parking, or have funky boutiques?
Think about these things as you do your holiday shopping and then sit down to write an article about one specific place, or a round-up of five or ten places a visitor to your town would like to go to shop any time of the year.
Focus on the shops with local flavor, the independent boutiques and locally-made wares in your town. What makes them special? Why would someone from out of town want to go there?
A story like this would be great for your local tourism website, (read about getting published in one here in our archives: http://tinyurl.com/2zylkn), or in local print magazines, your newspaper, and of course, Travel Post Monthly: http://www.travelpostmonthly.com .
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READER FEEDBACK:
Dear Staff at AWAI,
Thank you all for everything you do for AWAI. I'm very thankful to be a part of this esteemed group and appreciate your hard work in keeping the website current and planning the wonderful trips for us.
Please pass this message along to Terry, Lori and everyone on your team.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Susan Karels
[Ed. Note: Susan, thanks for your kind words. It may sound cliché, but it's our pleasure. People can never believe it when we tell them what we do for a living. We write. We take pictures. We travel. And we teach other folks to do it, too. How lucky can our little staff get?
If you'd like to have the best job in the world, too, you can. And we'd love to help you kick-start your new endeavor. Right now, nearly all our programs are on sale: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/holiday2007/savings]
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OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES FOR WRITERS:
* GET 5 FREE PHOTO CRITIQUES WITH ANY OF THESE PRODUCTS --
http://www.thephotographerslife.com/puc/5freeonsite
* FIND THE WORLD'S MOST QUIRKY, FUN, AND BIZARRE PLACES: http://www.isecureonline.com/Reports/120SWBST/W120H1AI
* TAX WRITE OFFS EVERY FREELANCER SHOULD KNOW: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tax/website
* ESCAPE THE DRUDGERY -- MOVE YOUR OFFICE ANYWHERE
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/sh/website
* BECOME A SUCCESSFUL CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR
http://www.publishachildrensbook.com/fr89
* A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER IN YOUR POCKET:
http://www.thephotographerslife.com/tip/website
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The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.
(c) 2007 American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
memberservices@awaionline.com
To LEARN MORE, visit:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com
http://www.thephotographerslife.com
